Half Of Me

Album: Unapologetic (2012)
Charted: 75
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This bonus track from the deluxe edition of Unapologetic finds Rihanna explaining that she's more than just surface. "Saw me on the television, that's just the half," she sings. "You saw the half of it. This is the life I live, and that's just the half of it."
  • Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé and her frequent collaborator Naughty Boy (real name Shahid Khan) wrote the song. Speaking with Guilty Pleasures, Khan revealed how this song made Rihanna weep. "When they played it to her she cried," he said. "It was the week her grandmother died and it's quite an emotional song."
  • The Norwegian duo Stargate produced the track. It is one of four on Unapologetic that they helmed, including the hit single, "Diamonds."
  • Sandé has also written songs for the likes of Leona Lewis and Alicia Keys. During an interview on Fresh 102.7's Jim & Kim Show, the Scot was asked if she ever feels that her songs misinterpreted by the artists? She replied: "No, I've never had that feeling. When you can it's great to get in the studio with them. When I was writing for Rihanna we met up in LA and she told me what she was feeling, and what she wanted in the song. You're tailoring the song for someone specifically."
  • The version that was played for Rihanna was just the demo recorded by Emeli Sandé and Naughty Boy on their iPhone. Naughty Boy told Source magazine: "I suppose it just proves that any song doesn't have to be the best version of it as long as you can hear the song and you can feel the song – even an iPhone demo."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Female Singers Of The 90s

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Boz Scaggs

Boz ScaggsSongwriter Interviews

The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.

Randy Newman

Randy NewmanSongwriting Legends

Newman makes it look easy these days, but in this 1974 interview, he reveals the paranoia and pressures that made him yearn for his old 9-5 job.

Sugarland

SugarlandSongwriter Interviews

Meet the "sassy basket" with the biggest voice in country music.